Filling apparatus for volatile liquids with vapor return conduit



April 20, E948. P. M. ELLIOTT 2,439,887

FILLING APPARATUS FOR VOLATILE LIQUIDS WITH VAPOR RETURN CONDUIT Filed NovA 29, 194s r' HTTK Patented Apr. 20, 1948 FILLING APPARATUS FOR VOLATILE LIQUIDS WITH VAPOR RETURN CON- DUIT Peter M. Elliott, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as-

signor to Oil Distribution Appliances Limited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application November 29, 1943, Serial No. 512,181

4 Claims.

This invention relates to filling apparatus, particularly apparatus for filling tank Waggons with gasoline or oth'er volatile liquids from a tank.

The main object of the invention is to eliect a saving in gasoline by recovering a substantial portion of the gasoline which normally is lost in escaping fumes. A further `object is to provide improved means for raising and lowering the nozzle. A further object is to devise filling apparatus in which the danger of fire or explosion is reduced to a minimum.

The invention is hereinafter more particularly described and is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevation with parts broken away to show the construction thereof;

Figure 2 a side elevation, likewise with parts broken away; and

Figure 3 an enlarged vertical section on the line 3-3 in Figure 1.

In the drawings corresponding numerals refer to corresponding parts in th'e different iigures.

The discharge spout or nozzle I is connected with two liquid lines or conduits 2,2, controlled by a valve 3. Within the nozzle is a fume tube d for the return fumes. This runs up in front of the nozzle, and is provided with a sight-glass 5. In Figure 2 the nozzle is partly broken away to show th'e tube 4. See also Figure 3. A vertical rigid constant length pipe 6 which is substantially in alignment with the nozzle I extends upwardly v between the vertical portions of the two gasoline inlet pipes 2, 2. The lower end of the pipe 6 communicates with fume tube 4 through' drip chamber 3l.

The upper end of the pipe 6 connects with a fume conduit 22 which runs to a point adjacent the top of the supply tank 23. A pressure relief valve 26 is provided in the fume conduit at its connection with the tank 23.

The liquid conduits 2, 2 run to a point adjacent the bottom of the tank 23, and both the fume conduit and the liquid conduits include a loose section of flexible hose to permit them to be moved up and down and to and from the tank.

The connection between the lower end of the pipe 6 and the nozzle is a ball and socket joint Iia which permits movement of the nozzle to adjust itself to the angle of the tank waggon so that the gasket la will t closely to the opening in the tank waggon.

The following mechanism is provided for raising and lowering the nozzle. A sleeve 1 extends around the pipe 6 and has a rack 'la formed in the side thereof, or the rack teeth may be formed 2 directly onthe side of the pipe 6 and extending longitudinally thereof. A gear A is rotatable by means of a chain 20 and pulley 2I and rotates gear B which' in turn rotates gear C which engages the rack la and moves it up and down.

The Vertical pipe 6 and its sleeve 'I slide in a fixed guide 8 mounted on the carriage 9 and is normally spring supported by means of the crossbar I9 which is secured to the lower end of the sleeve 'l and which is connected by means of chains I I to recoil springs I2 in casings I3. In Figure 2 the casing I3 is partly broken away to show the chain I land the spring I2. The springs I2 normally counterbalance the weight of the nozzle, the liquid conduits 2, `and the pipe 6. The rotation of the gear wh'eel C will force the sleeve downwardly against the tension of the springs I2 to force the nozzle into the opening in the tank waggon. The sleeve 'l is slidably mounted on the pipe B and aspring I3a extends around the pipe 6 and engages they sleeve 'I and the upper end of the nozzle structure 6 and acts as a buffer to break th'e jar when the nozzle is pushed into the opening in the tank car or waggon.

The carriage 9 is provided with wheels 24 which run on tracks 25 whereby the filling apparatus may be moved to and .from the tank 23 to a point over the lilling opening of the tank waggon.

VAn important feature of the invention is the arrangement of the fume tube 4. Details of its construction are shown in Figure 3. Openings 4b admit the fumes from the tank waggon into the fume tube 4. A iioat 2'! ts in the bottom of the fume outlet over the opening 4c provided with an upwardly extending rod 2'Ia which h'as a ball 2lb on its upper end at the bottom of the sight-glass 5. When the liquid in the waggon reaches the bottom of the nozzle the oat will riseand the ball 21b will go up in the sight-glass indicating lto the operator that the waggon tank is full.

A pressure regulator valve 28 rests on a seat 29 to control the pressure at which fumes will escape. This valve has a stem 28e which extends through a guide 39 to a weight chamber 3|. Weights 32 are placed over the stem 28al to provide the necessary resistance to the pressure. Additional Weights may be placed on the valve as required to increase or decrease the pressure at which the fumes will escape. The Weight required will vary according to the pressure under which the liquid is being supplied to the waggon tank, it being essential that a greater pressure be required to lift the valve 28 to avoid too great a loss of fumes. The exact weight required can readily be determined by one skilled in the art, if necessary, by experiment.

A screw cap 33 encloses the chamber 3|, and has a hole therein through which extends a link 34 connected to the valve stem 28a and a cam 35 from which extends a lever 36, lilyI pulling down the lever the valve 28 may be lifted from its seat to permit liquid which has accumulatedin the drip chamber 3l to now down to the nozzle.

The drip chamber collects liquid which drains down the pipe B. The valve 28 is closed when the nozzle is not being used so 'that liquid which drips down is caught and does not drip out of the nozzle.

A scrubber 38 is located at the bottom of the vertical pipe 6. This comprises an inverted cone having a plurality of perforations therein for the fumes to pass through. A pressure vrelier valve 39 is provided for releasing pressure in the fume" tube 4 below the valve 28. A spring normally closes this valve but. it may be opened by pressing it inwardly.

` Fumes are carried up the vfume tube L4 directly from the interior of the tank wag'gon. VThe .pipe for-ms a sort of tower or column, and during 'the passing -of the fumes up the pipe liquid forms and drops down to the drip chamber and 'from thence through fume tube 4 inthe nozzle intoth'e Wa'ggbri tank. Viilriat fumes escape through 'the'tank Yrelief valve 2S have had most of the excess liquid removed therefrom, and there is great saving in gasoline.

It yis thought that the construction a'nd use of the invention 'will be apparent iroi'n the above description o'f the various 'parts and 'their jpurpose. It is to be understood that 'the f'orm of -m`y invention herewith 'shown and described, is 'to b'e taken as 'a preferred example oi the same, and that various changes in the shape, 'size "and means for raising and lowering the nozzle 'in- 'cluding 4a support, gear means 'on `said support,

a sleeve slidabl'e on said vertical pipe, a spring Surrounding said pipe and engaging the lower 'end oi the 'sleeveand the nozzle, and a rack on "s'aidfsleeve engaging said gear'means.

'2. Filling apparatusfor filling tank Waggons and the like from a tank comprising 'a liquid conduit Afor carrying liquid from the tan-k, a liquid discharge nozzle connected to the liquid conduit, la. frhe tub'e forming'pejrt o's'aid nozzle for fear with the fume tube, said vertical pipe forming a tower or column where liquid tends to separate from the gases and run back to the nozzle, a drip chamber below the vertical pipe, and a check valve between the drip chamber and the fume tube adapted to close and retain condensate in the drip chamber when the filling apparatus is not in use and to open to admit fumes from the fume tube when pressure in the tank reaches a predetermined point.

'3'. vlililling 'apparatus for lling tank Waggons and the like from a tank comprising a liquid conduit for carrying liquid from the tank, a liquid discharge nozzle connected to the liquid conduit, 'a fume tubefforming part of,said nozzle for carrying onj fumes, a vertical pipe communicating with the fume tube, said vertical pipe forming a tower 'or column where liquid tends to separate from thegases and run back to the nozzle, a drip chamber below the vertical pipe, a check valve between the drip chamber and the fume tube weighted to control the pressure a-t which fumes passing into the fume 'tube may be admitted to the 'drip chamber and the vertical pipe, and manually operable means for opening said check valve to permit liquid which hasaccumulated in the drip chamber to flow in'to the lfume tube.

4. Filling apparatus for lling tank Waggons and the like from a ytank comprising a liquid conduit 'for carrying 'liquid from the tank, a liquid discharge nozzle connected to the liquid conduit, a fume tube forming .part of said nozzle .for carrying on. ilumes, a vertical pipe communicating with the :fume tube, said vertical pipe forming a tower or column where liquid. tends to separate from the gases and run back to the nozzle, a drip chamber below the vertical pipe. a pressure valve between the drip chamber and the Afume tube, an aperture extending through the wall of lthe fume tube, and a manually operable relief valve in 4said aperture for .relieving the pressure below said pressure valve.

PETER M. ELLIOTT.

REFERENCES C'ED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

AUl\T1'IlElD STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 151,664 Hobson June 2, 1874 601,950 Hartmann Apr. 5, 1918 654,714 Colby July 31, 1900 708,942 Torchiani Sept. 9, 1902 790,463 Taliaferro May 23, 1905 1,269,639 Parrv June 18, 1918 A.'l,655`,3-12 Daniell Jan. 3, 1928 1,960,657 Alexander May 29, 1934 Y2,261,706 Weaver NOV. 4, -1-941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 37,559 Germany Nov. 9, 1886 

